Process for hydrofracturing an underground aquifer from a water well borehole for increasing water flow production from Denver Basin aquifers

Abstract

A process for hydrofracturing a specific interval or zone in a water aquifer from a water well borehole and introducing high-pressure water and gravel proppants for increasing water flow production from the water well. The process uses a hydrofracture tool having a perforated pipe section with a pair of inflatable packers. The tool is lowered into the borehole to the deepest interval to be fraced. The length of the tool is sufficient to span the width of the interval. The packers are then inflated thus sealing off the area in the borehole next to the interval. High-pressure water is then introduced through the drill stem and through ports in the perforated pipe section. After sufficient high-pressure water has fractured the surrounding interval, gravel proppants are forced into the surrounding fractured interval. Upon discontinuing the hydrofracturing of the interval, the two packers are deflated and the hydrofracture tool is moved upwardly to the next water-bearing interval and the process is repeated. After fracing the intervals, the well is now completed using normal well completion techniques.

1. A process for hydrofracturing water-bearing intervals or zones in an underground aquifer from a water well borehole with a drill stem suspended therein, the process increasing water flow production from a water well, the process steps comprising:
 using geophysical well log data compared with borehole cuttings from the borehole for selecting first and second water-bearing intervals in the borehole and determining the depth of the intervals and the approximate width of each intervals, the well log data including geophysical logging of the borehole; 
 lowering a hydrofracture tool connected to a bottom of the drill stem to a lowest, first interval in the borehole, the tool including a pipe section with a plurality of ports disposed around the pipe section and a pair of inflatable packers attached to opposite ends of the pipe section, a length of the pipe section approximately the width of the interval; 
 inflating the inflatable packers for sealing an area around the pipe section and the borehole next to the pipe section; 
 introducing high-pressure water in a range of 300 to 1000 psi through the drill stem and out the ports in the pipe section for fracturing the surrounding first interval; 
 introducing gravel proppants slowly into the high-pressure water and forcing the proppants into the fractured first interval; 
 terminating the high-pressure water and gravel proppants to the first interval when the pressure of the high-pressure water increases and the volume of water introduced in the first interval decreases; 
 deflating the inflatable packers and moving the tool upwardly in the borehole to the next lowest, second interval and positioning the pipe section next to the second interval and repeating the introduction of high-pressure water and gravel proppants in the second interval; 
 terminating the high-pressure water and gravel proppants to the second interval when the pressure of the high-pressure water increased and the volume of water introduced in the second interval decreases; and 
 completing the water well using well casing and water screens next to the fractured first and second intervals in the borehole. 
 
   
   
     2. The process as described in  claim 1  wherein the geophysical logging of the borehole includes natural gamma ray testing, shallow and deep resistivity testing, induction testing, spontaneous potential and caliper testing. 
   
   
     3. The process as described in  claim 2  wherein the geophysical logging of the borehole further includes compensated density and porosity logs for identifying the hydraulic characteristics of the intervals. 
   
   
     4. The process as described in  claim 1  wherein the length of the pipe section is as great as the width of the first and second water-bearing intervals. 
   
   
     5. A process for hydrofracturing a water-bearing interval or zone in an underground aquifer from a water well borehole with a drill stem suspended therein, the process increasing water flow production from a water well, the process steps comprising:
 using well log data, including geophysical logging of the borehole, for selecting at least one water-bearing interval in the borehole and determining the depth of the interval and the approximate width of the interval, the geophysical logging of the borehole including comparing borehole cuttings with the geophysical logging for selecting the water-bearing interval; 
 lowering a hydrofracture tool connected to a bottom of the drill stem, the tool including a pipe section with a plurality of ports therein and a pair of inflatable packers attached to opposite ends of the pipe section, a length of the pipe section approximately the width of the interval; 
 inflating the inflatable packers for sealing an area around the pipe section and the borehole next to the pipe section; 
 introducing high-pressure water through the drill stem and out the ports in the pipe section for fracturing the surrounding interval; 
 introducing gravel proppants into the high-pressure water and forcing the proppants into the fractured interval; 
 terminating the high-pressure water and gravel proppants to the interval, deflating the inflatable packers and removing the tool from the borehole; and 
 completing the water well using well casing and a water screen next to the fractured interval in the borehole. 
 
   
   
     6. The process as described in  claim 5  wherein the length of the pipe section is typically in a range of 10 to 40 feet. 
   
   
     7. The process as described in  claim 5  wherein the pipe section has an inside diameter of approximately 4.5 inches. 
   
   
     8. The process as described in  claim 5  wherein the high-pressure water is introduced into the drill stem at a pressure in a range of 300 to 1000 psi. 
   
   
     9. The process as described in  claim 5  wherein the borehole has a diameter in a range of 17 to 22 inches. 
   
   
     10. The process as described in  claim 5  wherein the step of using well log data includes selecting at least two water-bearing intervals in the borehole and determining the depth of the intervals and the approximate width of the intervals. 
   
   
     11. A process for hydrofracturing water-bearing intervals or zones in an underground aquifer from a water well borehole with a drill stem suspended therein, the process increasing water flow production from a water well, the process steps comprising:
 using well log data for selecting at least two water-bearing intervals in the borehole and determining the depth of the intervals and the approximate width of the intervals, the well log data including geophysical logging of the borehole, the geophysical logging of the borehole including comparing borehole cuttings with the geophysical logging for selecting the water-bearing intervals; 
 lowering a hydrofracture tool connected to a bottom of the drill stem to a lowest interval in the borehole, the tool including a pipe section with a plurality of ports disposed around the pipe section and a pair of inflatable packers attached to opposite ends of the pipe section, a length of the pipe section approximately the width of the lowest interval; 
 inflating the inflatable packers for sealing an area around the pipe section and the borehole next to the pipe section; 
 introducing high-pressure water in a range of 300 to 1000 psi through the drill stem and out the ports in the pipe section for fracturing the surrounding interval; 
 introducing gravel proppants slowly into the high-pressure water and forcing the proppants into the fractured lowest interval; 
 terminating the high-pressure water and gravel proppants to the interval when the pressure of the high-pressure water increased and the volume of water introduced in the interval decreases, 
 deflating the inflatable packers and removing the tool from the borehole; and 
 completing the water well using well casing and a water screen next to the fractured lowest interval in the borehole. 
 
   
   
     12. The process as described in  claim 11  wherein the length of the pipe section is typically in a range of 10 to 40-feet and greater. 
   
   
     13. The process as described in  claim 11  wherein the outer diameter of the inflated packers when inflated is in a range of 20 to 22 inches. 
   
   
     14. The process as described in  claim 11  wherein the geophysical logging of the borehole includes natural gamma ray testing, shallow and deep resistivity testing, induction testing, spontaneous potential and caliper testing. 
   
   
     15. The process as described in  claim 11  wherein the geophysical logging of the borehole further includes compensated density and porosity logs for identifying the hydraulic characteristics of the intervals.